CESAFI: USC Warriors stay alive with Game 3 win over UV

CEBU CITY, Philippines –  The University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors kept their title hopes alive with a narrow victory over the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, 56-54, in Game 3 of the CESAFI college basketball finals on Thursday, October 20, at the New Cebu Coliseum.

UV still holds a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 series. 

Giovannie Laguyo turned the tide for USC after he tied the game at 52-all with 45 seconds left in the ballgame. It was also him who sealed the win for the Warriors by converting both his charities which he received after he was fouled by UV’s Alfred Codilla in the fight for the ball possession under the goal.

“For me it was really a team effort, it was just a coincidence that the game went my way. I guess I am just blessed,” Laguyo said of his effort.

Laguyo said that they were motivated by what head coach Rommel Rasmo told them during halftime “to never give up.”

He told us “walang bibitaw, because the game is very close, so we got motivated because even our coach did not give up on us.”

Although Laguyo only finished with 8 points and 3 assists, he was still honored as the Best Player of the Game because of the crucial shots he made. 

Topscorer, however, for USC was team captain Victor Emmanuel Rabat who finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.

Bassieru Sackor helmed UV with his double-double performance of 11 points and 18 rebounds. He also managed two assists, two steals and one block. However, it went all for naught.

The UV Green Lancers still have one more chance to close out the finals early in Game 4 which will be held on Saturday, October 22, at 5:30 pm.

The game was the closest so far in the Ffinals series with USC taking a 3 point lead in the first quarter, 13-11. The game got tied 8 times. Both teams were unable to put considerable distance between them with UV only managing 7 points as their highest lead on a basket by Rey Anthony Suerte, 34-27, in the third quarter.

Scores

USC Warriors (56) – Rabat 12, Laguyo 8, Catapusan 7, Tagapan 7, Tan 7, Oleodo 6,  Ntumba 4, Adlawan 2, Ecarma 2, Munez 1.

UV Green Lancers (52) – Sackor 11, Soliva 10, Suerte 9, Codilla 8, Segumpan 7, Napao 5, Gahi 2. – Rappler.com